Hi, I've been working in the corporate world for ten years, I'm in a good position but I'm not satisfied. I want to start my own business.
Honestly, I don't have a clear idea in mind, just a feeling that "I need to do something." My wife supports me but is worried, we have two kids.
Is it too late to start at this age? Is it stupid to quit without an idea? I'm looking for honest answers, no pep talks.
I'll answer as someone who went bust, and I won't give you a pep talk either.
Age isn't an issue. Starting at 34 is better than starting at 24 in many ways: you know the industry, you have connections, you've learned money management. Entrepreneurship stories romanticize youth, but the data shows experience pays off more.
The problematic part is this: "quitting without an idea." Don't do that. Because every month spent without an idea eats into your savings and causes you to make decisions out of panic. I said yes to the wrong client exactly out of that panic.
What you should do: start looking for ideas while staying employed. There must be a process in your own industry that has been annoying you for ten years. The best ideas are hidden there, and you already know them.
The detail about having two kids is important, let's not skip over it. Your risk capacity isn't yours, it's your family's.
My suggestion is this: answer the "how many months" question clearly before quitting. How many months can you survive without income? Divide that number by two, that's the realistic figure. Because everything takes longer than you estimate.
If that figure is less than six months, don't quit. Start in the evenings and on weekends. It's slow, but you'll survive.
As a retired engineer, I'll add one sentence, then step back.
sometimes the dissatisfaction isn't about the job itself, but your place in it. starting a business doesn't solve dissatisfaction, it just swaps it out. to tell the difference, ask yourself: if you had a completely different role at the same company, would you still want to leave?
if the answer is yes, go for it. if no, try switching roles first, it's a cheap experiment.
as someone in HR, here's some practical advice: don't burn bridges when you leave.
your former employer could be your first client, this happens all the time. people who handle the handover properly and leave things in good order often come back six months later with a consulting deal. it helps with cash flow and builds trust.
I was thinking the same thing. Processes without records never improve, because you don't know what to fix.
If I were you, I'd go this route.
Doki · Corporate website · 2025
I went through the same thing two years ago. Calculate this based on total annual cost, not the monthly bill.
Hope this helps.
My question might sound amateurish, sorry about that. Don't enter any agreement without an exit plan.
People defend habits, not processes. Resistance comes from there. Hope this helps.
Looking at it as a process, the picture changes. When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best.
Hope this helps.
I disagree with you on this point. The answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.
If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.
there are three things to check when doing this... just because everyonne does it doesn't mean it's right.
hope this helps.
To get into the details: When you try to change everything at once, nothing settles.
If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.
The opposite happened to me that's why I'm writing. Mistakes made on the decision side are usually reversible but expensive.
If I were you, Id go this route.
Doki · Penetration test · 2023
This is exactly what we experienced. A small market isn't bad; working cheaply in a small market is.
If I were you, I'd go this route.
The answer above hits the nail on the head. The answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.
Good luck with that.
There's also a measurement aspect to this. Processes without records never improve, because you don't know what to fix.
Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval. Of course, it varies if your situation is different.
I'm in the same situation, that's why I'm asking. When making a decision, also write down the cost of reversal.
Don't hesitate to ask; those who don't ask always pay more. Good luck with that.